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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (April 9) received report from the United Christian Hospital (UCH) of three cases of acinetobacter baumannii (a kind of bacteria) pneumonia and is conducting investigation into the cases.
Three male patients, aged between 50 and 80, presented with pneumonia and were admitted to the UCH from March 25 to April 2. Of them, a 75-year-old man passed away on April 2 while the other two are now in stable condition.
A CHP spokesman said that all patients had underlying chronic illnesses.
Preliminary investigation found no epidemioloigcal linkage among these three cases. Further investigation is ongoing.
Acinetobacter baumannii was isolated in the respiratory/blood specimens of the three patients. The bacteria found in the patients are sensitive to some commonly used antibiotics.
Acinetobacter baumannii is commonly found in water and soil. It can also be found in the skin of healthy persons and it mostly affects patients with underlying illnesses. It may cause pneumonia, sepsis, endocarditis, meningitis or wound infections.
The spokesman said, "Personal and environmental hygiene are general measures to prevent against this infection. Patients with underlying illnesses should seek medical advice early if they develop signs and symptoms of pneumonia such as shortness of breath or fever. "
Ends/Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Issued at HKT 22:45
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